TL;DR: If you finished a university degree (EQF level 6 or above) in Spain on a student authorisation, you can apply for a residence permit of up to 24 months, not renewable, to look for work or start a business. You apply from Spain, within the 60 days before (or up to 90 days after) your student authorisation expires. You cannot work on this permit: once you have a job or a business plan, you apply for a work permit. The authorities must answer within 20 calendar days; if they do not, the permit is treated as granted.
What is the “job seeker visa” in Spain?
What people call the Spain job seeker visa is, legally, a residence authorisation to look for work or start a business for international graduates (Additional Provision 17 of Law 14/2013). It is not a visa you get at a consulate: you apply for it from Spain, as a change from your student authorisation.
It gives you up to 24 months to stay in Spain after your studies while you look for a job or prepare a business. It cannot be extended, and it does not allow you to work during that time.
Do not confuse it with the job-search visa issued abroad
Spain also has a visado para búsqueda de empleo of 12 months, issued by consulates through the collective recruitment scheme for specific groups, such as children and grandchildren of Spanish nationals or certain occupations. It is a different route, with its own quotas and requirements. This article is about the permit for people who studied in Spain.
Who can apply
- You hold a student stay authorisation (or its extension) in Spain.
- You have completed higher education at EQF level 6 or above (a university bachelor’s degree or higher) at an authorised Spanish institution.
- You are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you are not in Spain irregularly and you have no Schengen entry ban.
- You apply on time: within the 60 calendar days before your student authorisation expires, or up to 90 calendar days after (in that case you may face a fine).
Requirements and documents
| Requirement | What you need |
|---|---|
| Application form | Form EX-26, signed. |
| Degree | Proof that you completed your university degree. |
| Financial means | A sworn statement (declaración responsable) that you have 100% of the IPREM per month (50% if your accommodation is prepaid for the whole stay), plus 75% for the first family member and 50% for each additional one. |
| Health insurance | Public or private, with an insurer authorised in Spain. |
| Passport | Copy of a passport valid for at least one year. |
| Criminal record certificate | Only if your student authorisation lasted less than six months: from your country of origin or the countries where you lived in the last five years, legalised or apostilled and translated. |
| Fee | Form 790, code 052 (heading 2.1.1), paid within 10 working days of applying. |
How to apply, step by step
- Check your dates. Note when your student authorisation expires and file in the 60 days before.
- Gather the documents listed above, with sworn translations of any foreign documents.
- Submit online through the Mercurio platform (sede electrónica of the Ministry of Territorial Policy), addressed to the Immigration Office of the province where you live. You or your representative can file it.
- Pay the fee (790-052) within 10 working days.
- Wait for the decision. The deadline is 20 calendar days. If you get no answer, the application is treated as granted (positive administrative silence).
- Get your TIE. Book an appointment at the police station within one month of the approval to take your fingerprints.
Family members
The family members who were with you during your studies can stay with you on a family stay authorisation. They cannot work.
From job seeker to work permit
As soon as you find a job or are ready to start a business, you apply for the corresponding work authorisation:
- Employee: you need a job offer or contract. If you have been resident in Spain for at least one year, the national employment situation (the labour market test) does not apply to you.
- Self-employed or entrepreneur: you need a business plan and to meet the requirements for self-employment, or apply under the entrepreneur route of Law 14/2013.
Do not start working until the new authorisation is in place. If your 24 months end without a job, you will need another permit to stay or you will have to leave Spain.
Key takeaways
- Up to 24 months, not renewable, for graduates of a Spanish university degree (EQF 6+).
- No work allowed during the search.
- Apply from Spain in the 60 days before your student authorisation ends.
- Decision in 20 calendar days, with positive silence.
How we can help
We can check your dates and documents and file the application for you, and later handle the change to a work permit. Book a free 15-minute consultation. If you are still studying, read whether you can work with a student visa.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the job seeker permit in Spain?
Up to 24 months. It cannot be extended.
Can I work while I hold it?
No. You can look for jobs, attend interviews and prepare a business, but you need a work authorisation before you start working.
Who is eligible?
Non-EU nationals who studied in Spain on a student authorisation and completed a university degree at EQF level 6 or above.
When do I have to apply?
In the 60 calendar days before your student authorisation expires, or up to 90 calendar days after, with a possible fine.
How long does the decision take?
20 calendar days. If you receive no answer in that time, the application is considered granted.
Can my family stay with me?
Yes, the family members who were with you during your studies, but they cannot work.
Is this the same as the 12-month job-search visa?
No. That visa is issued by consulates to specific groups through the collective recruitment scheme. The permit in this article is for people who studied in Spain.
Sources
- Ministry of Inclusion, Information sheet 20: residence to look for work or start a business.
- Law 14/2013, Additional Provision 17 (BOE).
- Royal Decree 1155/2024, Immigration Regulation (BOE).
Reviewed by Irene Martí Gispert, lawyer at NIM Extranjería. Last reviewed: October 2026.
